Brethren, We Have Met To Worship

Brethren, we have met to worship

And adore the Lord our God;

Will you pray with all your power,

While we try to preach the Word?

All is vain unless the Spirit

Of the Holy One comes down;

Brethren, pray, and holy manna

Will be showered all around.

Brethren, see poor sinners round you

Slumbering on the brink of woe;

Death is coming, hell is moving—

Can you bear to let them go?

See our fathers and our mothers

And our children sinking down;

Brethren, pray, and holy manna

Will be showered all around.

Sisters, will you join and help us?

Moses’ sister aided him;

Will you help the trembling mourners

Who are struggling hard with sin?

Tell them all about the Savior—

Tell them that He will be found;

Sisters, pray, and holy manna

Will be showered all around.

Let us love our God supremely,

Let us love each other too;

Let us love and pray for sinners

Till our God makes all things new.

Then He’ll call us home to heaven,

At His table we’ll sit down;

Christ will gird Himself and serve us

With sweet manna all around.

GEORGE ATKINS (EIGHTEENTH CENTURY)

WHAT DOES IT MEAN to meet for worship? One part of worship involves adoring the Lord our God, which includes the idea of gazing lovingly. We come to meet our God and to consider how wonderful He is. Our worship also usually involves preaching and prayer. This hymn presents these two aspects of worship together.

And what is the result of prayerful worship? We are blessed by “holy manna”—bread from heaven. In the Old Testament God provided the Israelites with manna as they wandered in the wilderness. In the New Testament, Jesus gave His body as the Bread of Life through which we can receive spiritual nourishment. As we worship we participate in the eternal banquet of Christ’s presence. We celebrate God’s provision and thank Him for it.

O nations of the world, recognize the Lord, recognize that the Lord is glorious and strong. Give to the Lord the glory he deserves! Bring your offering and come into his presence. Worship the Lord in all his holy splendor.

1 Chronicles 16:28-29